Misplaced modifiers can be a tricky concept for students to grasp. A misplaced modifier is a descriptive word or phrase that is placed in the wrong part of a sentence, which can lead to confusion or altered meaning. For example, “I saw a man walking his dog in my pajamas” is a humorous example of a misplaced modifier because the pajamas are meant to be worn by the speaker, not the man walking the dog. To help students understand and avoid misplaced modifiers, here are some activities with pictures that can be used in the classroom.
1. Picture puzzles:
Create a set of pictures with descriptions that contain misplaced modifiers. Cut them up and have students match the correct description with the picture. This activity can be done individually or in small groups.
2. Sentence scramble:
Write sentences on index cards with misplaced modifiers. Cut them into pieces and have students work in pairs to put the sentences back together in the correct order. Afterward, have them share and explain how they fixed the sentence.
3. Picture rewrite:
Provide students with a picture and a sentence that contains a misplaced modifier. Have them rewrite the sentence with the correct placement of the descriptive word or phrase. Then have them share their rewrites with the class.
4. Real-world examples:
Bring in newspaper or magazine articles with examples of misplaced modifiers. Have students work in pairs to find and circle the misplaced modifier in the article and then rewrite the sentence correctly.
5. See it, say it:
Pass around a picture that contains a misplaced modifier and have students describe what they see. Then have them identify the misplaced modifier and explain how it changes the meaning of the sentence. Afterward, have students rewrite the sentence with the correct placement of the modifier.
By incorporating pictures and hands-on activities, students can better understand the concept of misplaced modifiers and avoid making these common mistakes in their own writing.
